Mercedes-Benz has offered early particulars of the powertrains that might be supplied for the third-generation CLA, which is about to be the primary mannequin to be constructed on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Structure (MMA). The skateboard platform may even be used for 3 different automobiles, together with a taking pictures brake and two SUVs.
In accordance with the German carmaker, the CLA might be out there as pure electrical car (EV) which makes use of its new-generation Electrical Drive Unit (EDU 2.0). This sees a rear-wheel drive format that was usually reserved for autos larger up the category tree, with electrical motor rated at 272 PS (268 hp or 200 kW).
All energy electronics, together with a silicon carbide (SiC) inverter are built-in right into a single element to maintain issues compact. For even higher effectivity, the rear EDU 2.0 unit additionally will get a two-speed transmission, which isn’t frequent amongst EVs that usually go for a single-speed discount gear.
The transmission’s first gear (11:1 ratio) is used when accelerating from a standstill and switches to the second gear (5:1 ratio) at larger speeds, with the highest pace being 210 km/h. The shift factors additionally soak up account the driving state of affairs and the chosen driving programme.
To fulfill the wants of consumers who require all-wheel drive, 4Matic variants of the upcoming CLA will add a front-mounted electrical motor (with a single-speed discount gear) offering 109 PS (107 hp or 80 kW). This received’t be energetic on a regular basis and can solely kick into motion when the corresponding energy or traction is required.
To realize this, a Disconnect Unit (DCU) is used for the primary time for the model’s entry-level section to decouple the electrical motor on the entrance axle. Mercedes-Benz says this reduces entrance axles losses by 90% and helps to extend vary, with the goal being a WLTP-rated determine of 750 km as per the Idea CLA Class from a yr in the past. The compact entrance unit additionally permits for a frunk.
As for batteries, Mercedes-Benz is providing two cell chemistries to select from, together with a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) pack with an vitality content material of 85 kWh (680 Wh/l, 496 kg). The choice is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with 58 kWh (450 Wh/l, 484 kg) – each packs are liquid cooled and have 4 modules inside them.
The CLA may even mark the primary time the model makes use of an 800V electrical structure in a manufacturing automobile, which allows super-fast DC charging at as much as 320 kW that’s claimed so as to add 300 km of vary with simply 10 minutes of charging. There’s additionally AC charging at both 11 kW or 22 kW, and there are plans so as to add bi-directional charging in future, new entry-level fashions.
On the every day drive, the CLA may also recuperate as much as 200 kW, with 4 ranges accessible by clients: D Automotive (clever recuperation), D+ (coasting, no recuperation), D (customary recuperation as much as one metre per second sq.) and D- (excessive recuperation as much as three metres per second sq.).
To showcase the aptitude of the CLA’s electrical powertrain, Mercedes-Benz’s Challenge N noticed two close-to-production prototypes cowl as a lot floor as doable inside 24 hours on the Nardo high-speed check observe in Italy. On the finish of testing, a CLA coated precisely 3,717 km with 40 charging stops, every one lasting round 10 minutes. If these are taken under consideration, the common pace was 154.9 km/h.
Spectacular as which may be, there are those that aren’t able to go absolutely electrical. As such, Mercedes-Benz is protecting that buyer base by providing the brand new CLA as hybrid with a 48V system. On the coronary heart of this setup is the M252 from the corporate’s FAME (Household of Modular Engines) line-up.
The M252 runs on the Miller cycle (12:1 compression ratio) and has a displacement of 1.5 litres, with three energy ranges supplied: 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW), 163 PS (161 hp or 120 kW) and 190 PS (188 hp or 140 kW). Paired to the engine is a brand new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission dubbed 8F-eDCT, which has an built-in electrical motor rated at 27 PS (27 hp or 20 kW).
The electrical motor present assist at low speeds and allows electrical coasting at a pace of as much as round 100 km/h. It additionally acts to fireplace up the engine, that means there’s no want for a standard pinion starter and the start-stop operate is nearly imperceptible for the motive force. A particular function being touted is the engine can recuperate in all eight gears to recuperate as much as 25 kW of vitality.
All that vitality is fed to a 48V lithium-ion battery with an vitality capability of 1.3 kWh. For environment friendly packaging, the battery cells and the DC/DC converter are built-in in what is named a flat pack that’s tucked underneath the motive force’s seat (left-hand drive). As an possibility, clients may also select to have a mechanical 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
The brand new CLA is anticipated to go on sale someday subsequent yr, and we are going to seemingly get much more particulars as we method its official debut date.
GALLERY: 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA prototype
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